Police, fire department budgets see little change from 2012

Editor's Note: This is the second article in a series about the City of Stuttgart 2013 Proposed Operating Budget. The first was published Friday, Jan. 4.

Leigh Kreimeier, lkreimeier@stuttgartdailyleader.com

The City of Stuttgart has $12,206,933 proposed to spend in 2013 with $12,210,031 as its proposed income. Each year the City of Stuttgart puts together its proposed operating budget for the year with the Stuttgart City Council adopting the budget on Dec. 31.

This year was no different.

“No, it is basically just like it was,” Stuttgart Mayor Marianne Maynard said about comparing the 2012 budget to 2013. But she feels the city is in good shape compared to other towns its size. “Yeah, I do. We are holding our own, better than others. We had some overages in some departments, be we have a sound budget basically this year.”

City employees will be seeing a pay increase, something Maynard said she has been working toward since holding the office of mayor.

“We have built-in raises for all departments in salaries. We try to do that every year, but raising salaries is not something that can be done overnight,” she explains.

Department: Finance

Advertising $410

Dues and subscriptions $180

Equipment: Tools, equipment $200

Insurance: Health $19,750

Maintenance, repairs and supplies $500

Medical $60

Miscellaneous $500

Office Expense $1,000

Pension: City contribution $15,850

Salaries $109,000

Tax: FICA $6,770

Tax: Medicare $1,590

Training and travel $5,000

Utility: Telephone $100

Workers Compensation $150

Total $161,060

There are three employees in the Stuttgart Finance Office. The yearly salary for the finance officer is $48,094, according to Carol Ables, Stuttgart Personnel Director.

Department: Court

Dues and subscriptions $425

Equipment: Tools, equipment $100

Insurance: Health $26,000

Maintenance, repairs and supplies $3,500

Miscellaneous $150

Office expense $5,000

Pension: City contribution $25,105

Salaries $57,080

Tax: FICA $3,530

Tax: Medicare $830

Tax: Sales and use $100

Training and travel $1,000

Utility: Telephone $2,200

Workers Compensation $200

Total $125,220

There are three employees plus the Stuttgart District Judge paid out of the Court Department. The Stuttgart District Court Clerk makes $28,545.12 yearly — half paid by city and half paid by Arkansas County. The Judge makes $40,388.16 yearly — half paid by city and half by Arkansas County, according to Ables.

Department: Police

Advertising $500

Dues and subscriptions $500

Fuel $65,000

Grants $5,000

Insurance: Fire and casualty $18,000

Insurance: Health $150,000

Maintenance, repairs and supplies $35,000

Medical $1,500

Miscellaneous $5,000

Office expense $15,000

Pension: City contribution $25,000

Pension: LOPFI $90,000

Salaries $990,000

Tax: FICA $63,000

Tax: Medicare $14,500

Tax: Sales and use $100

Tax: Unemployment $1,625

Training and travel $5,000

Uniforms $7,500

Utility: Electricity $1,000

Utility: Telephone $15,000

Workers Compensation $16,915

Total $1,525,140

There are 27 police employees, according to Ables, that work from the salary line item. The yearly salary for the Stuttgart Police Department chief position is $44,000 and $40,973 for the Stuttgart assistant chief. The starting pay for uncertified Stuttgart Police Department patrolmen is $9.50.

Department: Animal Control

Advertising $300

Insurance: Fire and casualty $1,500

Insurance: Health $4,075

Maintenance, repairs and supplies $5,000

Medical $160

Miscellaneous $250

Office Expense $1,500

Pension: City contribution $3,750

Salaries $37,000

Tax: FICA $2,300

Tax: Medicare $540

Tax: Sales and use $60

Training and travel $1,000

Uniforms $500

Utility: Electricity $2,500

Utility: Telephone $3,000

Workers compensation $570

Total $64,005

There is one employee paid out of the Stuttgart Animal Control salary.

“His hourly wage is $9. He is based on 2,080 yearly hours, but he gets overtime and cannot base the amount,” Ables explained.